Four teams remain perfect after the first week of the 2024 CEV Men's European Golden League

Czechia, Ukraine, Portugal and Croatia are the four teams to stay unbeaten after the first four tournaments and the first week of the 2024 CEV Men's European Golden League. Only one side, though, Czechia, has a perfect record, without dropping a set so far on their way to the Final Four, scheduled in Croatia on 15 and 16 June.

Playing against the hosts in Strumica, North Macedonia, did not bother Czechia at all, after having already disposed of Estonia in the first match, with a 3:0 flawless win (25:22; 25:20; 25:16). In both matches, Patrik Indra was Czechia’s top scorer, with 15 and 19 points respectively, as the hosts were no match for Czechia’s excellent gameplay, which took them to a 3:0 win (25:16; 25:15; 25:16).

Ukraine and Portugal were the next two teams in the standings after the first week, as they both won their two matches, but conceded a set. Ukraine delivered a strong 3:1 win against Romania, one of the surprises of the CEV EuroVolley Men 2023, which reached the quarter-finals, bouncing back after losing the first set, 20:25. Against the hosts, Azerbaijan, Ukraine dominated from start to finish, taking a clear 3:0 win (25:16; 25:16; 25:23), with real issues only in the third set.

On their home court in the Pavilhão Municipal Professor Joaquim Vairinhos, Loulé, Portugal threw off with a 3:0 win over Luxembourg (25:22; 25:19, 25:15), but their second match against Spain was a fantastic one, as the two teams went head-to-head until the end.

As Alexandre Ferreira added 29 points to his 15 points outing against Luxembourg, Portugal lost the first set, 23:25, but took the next two, 25:21 and 25:22. The final set was a topsy-turvy affair, with the hosts eventually taking it and the win, 35:33, as Spain continued to press, but to no avail.

Croatia, which have already secured their ticket to the Final Four as hosts, lost one set against Finland and Belgium each, but secured wins, however the one against Belgium was a very hard-fought one, with Croatia taking the last three sets by sheer experience, 26:24, 25:22 and 26:24.

Four teams – Belgium, North Macedonia, Luxembourg and Azerbaijan – have failed to win a match so far in the 2024 CEV Men's European Golden League, but they will get their chance between 24 and 26 May, when four other tournaments take place.

Israel deliver pitch perfect performances in the Silver League

The four teams taking part in the 2024 CEV Men's European Silver League are also in business, with three of them facing off last week in Kopavogur, Iceland, in the first week of the competition.

Israel were the team to clinch the two wins, in straight sets against the Faroe Islands (25:11; 25:12 and 25:13) and Iceland (25:15; 25:11; 25:12). Iceland secured the win against the Faroe Islands after a highly-contested match, taking a 3:1 win (25:21; 24:26; 25:22, 27:25), to keep their hopes alive for a place in the final.